Category: Candles

I am always so excited when I get the opportunity to handcraft custom candles for party favors. It means that I get to be a part of someone’s wedding, shower, birthday party, bat mitzvah (to name a few we’ve done) in a little way. I have the privilege and honor of creating something uniquely beautiful for a person’s special celebration. I don’t take that responsibility lightly; I am distinctly aware of the necessity of perfect presentation for favors. While I make favors from a number of our products, I always feel that candles are extra special.

The customer has the choice in the jar, fragrance, and label, which makes the customization process distinctly unique for every customer. Even if your friend gave candles for her shower, your candles will look and smell completely different based on your specific tastes.

Everyone likes candles! Candles are found in 70% of American homes, which means your guests are sure to be satisfied by receiving a candle.

Candles have a quick turn-around time. You can give a meaningful, handcrafted favor and not have to wait weeks for it to cure. Candles can be poured and ready in days (depending on how many you need).

“Dr. Alan Hirsch of Chicago’s Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation explains the draw of scented candles. ‘”When you collect candles,” he says, “you aren’t just collecting the smell of the candle, you are also collecting the emotion of the experience when you first created the memory associated with the candle’s scent”‘ (“America’s Burning Love for Candles,” The Week).

“Candle purchasers say they view candles as an appropriate gift for the holidays (76%), as a housewarming gift (74%), a hostess/dinner party gift (66%), a thank you (61%) and as adult birthday gifts (58%)” (“Candle Facts & Figures,” National Candle Association).

A typical 8oz candle will burn for 40-50 hours (when burned correctly). With the average person burning a candle for less than 4 hours at a time, your guests will enjoy their gift for weeks.

Candles don’t expire. Your guests can keep the covers on their candles and keep the candle fresh for as long as they want without needing to worry about storage.

Candles are timeless. People have been burning candles for thousands of years. Giving the favor of a candle is classic and will always be in style.

The next time you’re hosting a party, consider a customized candle as a favor for a sure-fire way to please your guests.

I received a really interesting direct message on the Scents the Moment Instagram the other night:

Initially, as you can tell from my response, I was a little taken aback. I mean, if you look at my Instagram, I have photos of products and my dog, Lucy – I never thought my branding would direct me to be that kind of shop.

But, I questioned my own thinking… what, exactly, did I mean by that kind of shop?

A spiritual shop? A Wiccan shop? A head shop?… I realized the error wasn’t with the question, but in my own thinking.

Candles have existed for millennia and their brightness have served as metaphors for just as long. I realized the question I received was deep-rooted in far more history of candles that I was never aware of. After a little guidance from my friend Deb Jasien, owner of Fields of Ambrosia, she directed me to Wicca Lore and I started to do my research and revised my response:

Candles are inherently magical because they represent the four elements of nature. The wax is equivalent to the Earth (think of the soybeans used to create our wax base). The melted wax is like water – liquefied parts of the Earth. The flame is obviously fire and the smoke produced by the candle is the air. According to Witches Lore, this deep-rooted connected between candles and Earth is strengthened based on the scent.

There exists a whole realm and encyclopedia of fragrances and what they spiritually mean.

Our candles were not created with the intent to draw any connection with the dead. We create our candles for beauty, aesthetic, fragrance, home decor, and to use your olfactory sense to connect you with a blissful moment in life. That being said, we do use scents that are inherently “magical” (as demonstrated above) and would love to hear about how you use our candles to feel more connected with yourself, spirit, or more.

I absolutely love all kinds of music. My iTunes is home to thousands of songs of countless genres. From “Pure Moods” to Pitbull, Gregorian Monk Chants (yes, really) to Lady Gaga, Broadway, Big Band, Beatles, Billy Joel, Billie Holiday, Billy Idol, Billy Ray Cyrus – you get the big picture. I was raised with music as a form of catharsis, stress relief, joy, and celebration. My father is a musician, and both of my parents loved music so much that it was just normal in my childhood to have some form of music playing 24 hours a day. To this day, there are evenings when I cannot sleep without my headphones.

As important as music is to setting a mood and creating ambiance, I look at it like a fine wine in need of a cheese pairing. We have our musical playlists to rev us up while we work out, or the perfect driving station, pairing your soy candle with the right playlist can also add an additional layer of relaxation and home decor, especially while entertaining.

For each candle, I am going to offer a few songs that I believe perfectly suits the scent and creates an ideal moment. I am using my Amazon affiliate links so you can go directly to the song or album and check it out for yourself.

I bought twelve amber glass jars a little less than a year ago. I stored them in a drawer for that entire time. I had a million ideas for these jars. I knew I wanted them to be a candle, but I pined over the design of the label, and most importantly, over the fragrance.

I knew I wanted something a little spicy. In my mind, I kept seeing a phoenix, or the symbolic burning of rebirth. I experimented with a sweet orange and jalapeno fragrance, but I smelled no spice. Then I tried a caramel and cayenne, it just smelled like burnt sugar. I mixed hot pepper with lavender, with vanilla, with sandalwood… everything was just awful and burned my nose. I sadly decided to give up on the hot pepper.

I was actually a little heartbroken. I did not just want to buy a conventional fragrance oil; I really wanted this candle to speak to whoever was burning it – I wanted them to hear my soul through the blend of fragrances.

The scent still needed fire and spice – I had to show that aspect; the part where you find the strength to emerge from the flame, but I realized I needed it to be delicious. This spice shouldn’t be painful; this spice was meant to demonstrate empowerment, so the candle needed to also be sweet, or tangy, but completely palatable.

The idea of patchouli struck me. Alone, patchouli is musky with a bit of earth, not the hot spice I was looking for, but combined with chocolate, it is complex – both sweet and green; it gives the chocolate a punch. To add to the depth of this new combination, I wanted something floral. I love the scent of true rose, but it is dominating and overpowering, so blending rose with a fruit base to make a rose-jam scent would be perfect.

The combination of patchouli, chocolate, rose, and jam is sophisticated, intoxicating, and serene. It immediately reminded me when you’re at the breaking point and you absolutely need a moment to step away from the stressors of your life. The scent is both so complex, much like our daily chaos, I wanted something to balance the scent with tranquility. That’s where the idea of our logo came into mind.

Instead of further complicating the deep and provocative scent combination I created with a witty and wordy name, I chose the Tree of Life directly from our logo. This tree is a perfect symbol of serenity. That’s when the name finally hit me… Serenity Prayer.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

The final goal of creating this new limited-edition candle was to ask people to stop and meditate when they light the candle. The objective is to make the moment so peaceful from the alluring aroma and candlelight that everyone could stop to collect themselves, say the “Serenity Prayer” and find that moment of calm.

There is hardly anywhere you can turn without hearing about essential oils. From relaxation to cleaning, migraines to massages, essential oils are often touted as the modern-day natural solution to almost anything. Coming out of a generation that became warped by its over-reliance on pharmacological medications, it’s pretty easy to understand why people, especially Millennials and Generation X, would want to adapt into a more natural and healthier lifestyle.

But, how far is too far? When is natural simply not safe?

When people ask me about Scents the Moment, they usually ask if our products are “all natural,” to which I reply our products are where “nature meets science.”

Unfortunately, because of the all-natural wave in the last decade, many holistic companies and individuals have become fear-mongers, touting falsities about “all natural” that is, at best, wrong, and at worst, deadly. An example of when holistic goes too far is the anti-vaccine brigade which has instigated the resurgence of dormant diseases, specifically measles, mumps, and rubella, all on the false claims that vaccines cause Autism.

The claims I have heard about essential oils, especially from the two major multi-level marketing (MLM) companies, are downright scary. In this blog, I hope to do some essential oil myth-busting, putting our trust in actual science.

MYTH: Essential oils are better and safer than fragrance oils in my cosmetics and skincare.

Actually, this is not the case. In fact, there are some essential oils, such as eucalyptus, which can actually burn your skin, or citrus essential oils which cause phototoxicity. Fragrance oils, specifically phthalate-free fragrances, have been specifically formulated to be consistent with replication and safe for the skin. I would dare say they are safer since they are being created and duplicated from an actual formulation as opposed to varied crops and seasons that can affect essential oils.

MYTH: I can ingest essential oils.

What!? No! As my brilliant, and certified aromatherapist friend, Kayla Fioravanti says, “Beware of anyone who tells you to ingest essential oils either by putting a few drops in your water or putting them into a capsule. The only cases of death, organ failure, and hospitalization in the history of aromatherapy have been caused by ingesting essential oils. It is THAT dangerous.”

MYTH: I use essential oils around my pets and babies to keep them _____.

Please stop! Many essential oils are toxic to both children and pets. For example, tea tree essential oil can actually send your cats into toxic shock and seizures. Have a nice essential oil blend diffusing in your baby’s room? You could actually be triggering asthma and allergies.

MYTH: Essential oils come from plants, so they must be safe.

The FDA says it best: “Sometimes people think that if an “essential oil” or other ingredient comes from a plant, it must be safe. But many plants contain materials that are toxic, irritating, or likely to cause allergic reactions when applied to the skin.” Think of it this way: Poison ivy is a plant, do you want to rub it all over yourself?

Yeah, sorry, NOPE again. There is no such thing as “therapeutic grade” essential oils. As explained by aromatherapist Jade Shutes, “therapeutic grade” essential oils is only the use of clever marketing to imply that some oils are better than others. However, when you study the language, anything that claims to be “therapeutic” is implying medicinal practice, which is just plain dangerous, especially in the hands of untrained essential oil distributors.

MYTH: I can just mix essential oils with water and use it as a cosmetic.

Yikes for so many reasons.

Water grows mold and bacteria. Unless you have included a preservative, the essential oils in water are just as susceptible to growing mold and bacteria.

Most essential oils need to be diluted in another carrier oil for safety. Because some essential oils are so potent, they can cause major skin irritation, burning, or worse, unless diluted. As we know from basic chemistry, oils and water don’t mix (without an emulsifier), so you’re putting whoever you’re spraying at major risk for burns.

MYTH: I use special blends of essential oils to sanitize and disinfect my home.

While mixtures of essential oils can be decent for gentle cleaning and odor refreshing, as far as sanitizing or disinfecting – nope. Depending on what you need to sanitize or disinfect, you still need bleach or hydrogen peroxide.

MYTH: I only burn essential oil candles because they’re healthier.

Sorry to be a downer, but no again. Actually, because essential oils have such a low combustion rate when mixed with the fire of a candle, the fire is actually changing the chemical compound of the essential oil – this means that burning it could literally make it a) combustible b) flammable, or c) poisonous. Essential oils not only burn poorly in candles, they make your candle more likely to spark and even explode, turning them into a major fire hazard. Plus, they really stink at being scented candles since their chemical compounds change and the scent changes along with it.

MYTH: Lavender and Tea Tree essential oils will make my son grow breasts.

If we take a look at the actual BBC study that has become the root of this claim, we find that they did not even use essential oils, but instead used various components and chemicals that can also be found in these oils. Dr. Robert Pappas of Essential Oil University explains most of this on his Facebook page.

MYTH: Essential oils are part of my chemical-free lifestyle.

You can’t be chemical-free. Water is comprised of two hydrogen particles and one oxygen particle = chemicals. All things have chemicals.

I’m in love with lavender. I’m so in love with lavender, I was once tempted to make my business solely based on all things lavender. I settled for purple as our brand coloring, but there’s no doubt you’ll see my obsession with lavender if you simply searched the term on our website. So, what exactly makes lavender the most sought-after fragrance in the bath, body, and candle market?

Lavender itself is a plant, actually part of the mint family, distinguished by small, purple flowers grown upwards in grass-like fashion. It has a gentle, floral aroma which makes it incredibly popular for uses in cosmetics and home aesthetics. It’s relatively easy to grow, as long as it has proper drainage; the lavender plant does not tolerate saturation very well. It needs a good amount of light and does well in warmer climates. If you’re in a colder environment, lavender takes well to being potted.

Dating back to the time of Ancient Rome, the origin of the word lavender comes from the Latin, “lavare,” which means to wash. The Romans would often use the lavender plant to scent their baths, and while they did so, they discovered the properties it has to create a feeling of soothing and relaxation.

Lavender is used for restlessness, insomnia, nervousness, and depression. It is also used for a variety of digestive complaints including meteorism (abdominal swelling from gas in the intestinal or peritoneal cavity), loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, intestinal gas (flatulence), and upset stomach.

Lavender’s known relaxing properties are what drove me to create the Rest Easy aromatherapy spray. A beautiful blend of lavender essential oil with Roman & German chamomile, this spray can be used in an aromatherapy necklace, as a perfume, as a linen spray, for baby, as a facial toner, as a make-up remover, and even on medium-large dogs. Lavender and chamomile are a few of the only essential oils safe for babies; however, I always recommend you check with your pediatrician first – every child is different! Also, as a warning, while lavender is generally regarded as safe (GRAS under the FDA), it is best to avoid using lavender essential oil when pregnant, while on medication that could induce drowsiness, or when undergoing anesthesia.

Regarding its fragrance, lavender is beautiful on its own but is also known for blending well with numerous scents. In perfuming and blending, lavender is considered a middle floral note, and it blends particularly well with other florals, cleans, and fruit scents, though mixing it up with sweet scents also creates a wonderful blend, such as our famous Midnight in Paris bath bomb which is a blend of lavender and chocolate. I like to also bend the rules a little by blending lavender with woodsy/musky scents, like sandalwood. Our two best-selling candles are lavender blends: Unstressed, which is lavender and chamomile (two florals), and Weekend Getaway, which is lavender and sandalwood (floral and woodsy).

While lavender is now grown all over the world, and has been grown for over 2500 years, the most coveted lavender comes from Bulgaria. Surprisingly, if you sought to purchase lavender essential oil, there are so many varieties with numerous differences in price. Market prices change drastically pending crops, but as of right now, the general going rate, per pound:

I teach a high school senior English course entitled “Gods, Monsters, and the Apocalypse,” which is incredibly fun for me. I am always looking for new lessons to integrate into my curriculum. It’s the beginning of the school year and I always start with Greek Mythology, and I was researching new information, I started thinking about candles and wondered if there was any connection with Ancient Greece (since so much of the humanities and sciences are derived from Ancient Greece).

Interestingly, there is not much reference to candles in Greek mythology. There is man’s first fire, which was given to humanity by Prometheus, the Titan, during the great war between the gods and titans. The second reference is to Daedalus, the inventor who was also a revered intellect. He used wax to create the wings he made for his son, Icarus, to help them escape the labyrinth that King Minos trapped them in (side note – Daedalus actually created the labyrinth, but it was so complicated, the sky was the only way out).

According to the National Candle Association: “The Egyptians were using wicked candles in 3,000 B.C., but the ancient Romans are generally credited with developing the wicked candle before that time by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow or beeswax. The resulting candles were used to light their homes, to aid travelers at night, and in religious ceremonies.”

Tallow, or rendered animal fat (most commonly cow today, but could be any game), is actually still used in modern soap-making (not by us, we’re vegan makers), but offered numerous uses throughout time as no part of an animal was wasted. The tallow was used in candles, but probably had an awful smell while being burned, so upon the discovery of beeswax in the Middle Ages, beeswax was immediately preferred. Though, like today, beeswax was expensive and reserved only for those who were affluent enough to afford it.

The late 18th century brought the whaling industry, especially to the Americas, which carried through to the early 20th century. “The sperm whale was also used for its spermaceti—the wax taken from the oil of this huge mammal. This wax was used extensively as the fishing industry began to expand. The spermaceti candle was popular because it had no acrid odor, did not soften in summer temperatures, and burned evenly” (Encylcopedia.com). Whale blubber was popular not only for making candles but was the base of many original cosmetics, especially lipstick. The blubber was so incredibly versatile that whales nearly became extinct until the whaling ban. From blubber came the extraction of stearin acids combined with petroleum to create paraffin waxes, which are still popular today. In the late 19th century

The late 19th century’s discovery of electricity brought a decline of candle-making for light, but the early 20th century saw a boost for candles again when people wanted candles for decoration. Bayberry wax was soon discovered and became quite popular, especially around Christmas-time, for its unique earthy-scent. While bayberry wax did gain in popularity, especially as awareness for natural and plant-based goods grew in demand, the difficult rendering of the wax made it extremely expensive.

It wasn’t until 1993 that Michael Richards of Cedar Rapids, Iowa (USA) invented the use of soy wax candles. He sought to find a natural, sustainable resource for candle-making that was cheaper than bayberry wax or beeswax. Burning much cleaner than paraffin candles, much cheaper than bayberry or beeswax candles, along with being a sustainable source, soy wax candles soon became the consumer favorite and exactly why we create our candles with soy wax.

I like to present myself as a jovial person full of laughs and jokes. Put me in the right crowd and that’s exactly who I am. I am also capable of fear-rendering rage, but this Hulk only comes out when 1) Driving – because I am obviously the only person who knows how to drive in the whole world, 2) Facing Arrogant Ignorance – because nothing grinds-my-gears quite like a person preaching from a soapbox (no pun intended) about wrong information.

I was vending at an expo earlier this week and it was uncharacteristically slow. On top of the lack of foot traffic, the number of rude people out of the few dozen people who stopped by was blisteringly high. But today’s post is not just about the rude commentary from the expo event; it also includes a collection of various rude comments I have received about my business and the answers I wish I would have had at the time.

Before I begin, I want to acknowledge some facts: 1) My business is not for everyone, 2) My personality and demeanor are not for everyone, 3) Those who appreciate both are the best people on Earth. Now that we cleared that up…but seriously, it’s okay if my products don’t appeal to you – I may not understand your opinion, but I will always respect it. That said, a little respect goes a long way, and if you’re at a show and not loving the products at a vendor table, simply say “thank you” and walk away.

The following statements have been made to me at vendor events over the years by people who lack couth, were raised in a barnyard, or just sadistically enjoy rudeness. In an effort to minimize these comments in the future, I also have answers… I hope you appreciate my snark.

Why should I buy your soap when I can buy a bar of soap at the grocery store for 99 cents?

Why buy a Ferrari when you can get a 1974 Gremlin? The reality is that wherever people spend money is where they find the greatest value. If a person doesn’t value a product that is carefully formulated and hand-crafted, free of parabens, phthalates, detergents, animal by-products, is certified cruelty-free, vegan (OR sustainable palm-oil vegetarian), that is made specifically to moisturize skin, then I won’t be able to change your mind.

Oh no, your products are not “all-natural”!

No, and we never claim them to be “all-natural;” however, we do use natural ingredients mixed with SCIENCE. Why aren’t we touting ourselves as “all-natural”? Well, because poison ivy, scurvy, mold, and the bubonic plague are “all-natural,” and yet, we don’t want our bodies rubbed in them. There’s a reason people live well into their 80s now and not during Paleo times – it’s called SCIENCE.

I can buy candles at XXCANDLE STOREXX for much cheaper.

Yes, you probably could, and we’re sure they’re wonderful. So, what makes our candles stand out? Well, for one, we use USA soy wax, ensuring American farmers remain employed. We skip on paraffin because it’s petroleum-based, and we don’t believe big-oil needs any more money, plus soy burns much cleaner; we skip on beeswax because we’re a vegan company and love plants. Our wicks are cotton, not lead or zinc, so you won’t be burning any metal pollutants in your home. Our fragrances are always phthalate-free, minimizing the risk of allergic reaction and indoor air pollution. Our jars are Libbey-glass, which are American-made and high quality; they’re not going to combust on you. We assemble and hand-pour each and every candle with love and concentration to quality. So, you could spend less somewhere else, or you could support our small business that always has YOU (and not the almighty dollar) at the center of our vision.

Oh yeah, I saw a video on how to make XYZ product myself; that’s easy to make.

Awesome! We love supporting other makers! Let us know when you’ve bought all the ingredients, created a Good Manufacturing Process lab, purchased packaging, created a website, obtained liability insurance, designed and printed your labels, maintained batch numbers, followed FDA regulations, received a county business license, federal tax-ID, state tax-ID, and tested your products – then we’ll be super-psyched to purchase and try your products out, too!

I make soap/scrubs/etc. also, can you share your recipe?

In a word, nope. We’ll gladly share our ingredients (because we 1. have to legally disclose them, and 2. like to be transparent), but our recipes – sorry, friend, we went through a whole lot of testing (=time & money) to ensure our recipes are superb. However, we’ll happily private label our products for you to sell and make money with!

You use lye in your soap. I can’t use soap with lye, it makes me itch/squirm/dance-on-bars, etc.

So sorry to hear you’re unable to use SOAP – what do you wash with? Oh, you see, all soap is made with lye (even way back when great-great-great granny made her own soap). No lye = no soap.

I only use natural essential oils which are chemical-free.

We love essential oils, too! We use them in many of our products, but we also love phthalate-free fragrance oils. You see, there are only so many scents that can be recreated with essential oils, and we like to have the ability to tap into all fragrances.

Also, essential oils are not “chemical-free” – if it’s chemical-free, it doesn’t exist on Earth. For example, Lavender essential oil is comprised of “a total of 47
compounds representing 98.4 – 99.7% of the oils were identified. 1,5-Dimethyl-1-vinyl-4-hexenylbutyrate was the main constituent of essential oil (43.73%), followed by 1,3,7-Octatriene, 3,7-dimethyl- (25.10%), Eucalyptol (7.32%), and Camphor (3.79%)” – African Journal of Microbiology Research.

Are your products homemade, like in your kitchen?

Our products are “handcrafted,” and maybe we’re just being picky about connotation here, but the implication of “homemade” versus “handcrafted” implies a product with less sterility and stability. And no, we actually have a dedicated LAB where we create our products.

Why do you donate to rescuing animals and not something important like cancer research?

We believe any cause for the freedom, health, and well-being of Earth’s creatures is a justifiable cause. Our focus happens to be animal rescue because we’re advocates for those who don’t have a voice and because we personally rescue pit bulls. However, we’d love to be a part of any charity event, and in fact, we currently support various religious, historical, civil-rights, and animal groups through vending.

I don’t use soy because of all the GMOs and your products have soy.

Yup, some of our products, and all of our candles do use soy wax or soybean oil. Truthfully, we don’t mind GMO soy for wax candles because it allows for a larger production to support American jobs – and since you don’t eat your candles, it’s not going to alter your body. As for our skincare products, we use organic soybean oil (and according to USDA standards, you cannot label something organic if it has GMOs) because we know that’s important to you and it’s going directly onto your body.

Yes, believe it or not, we have received all of these questions, and usually presented to us in a rude manner, but we remember the heart of it comes simply from not knowing our brand yet. Hopefully, this gives you a better idea of who we are…and a better way to ask questions when you don’t know!

Do you have “rude” questions for us? Please feel free to go rogue and ask away!

It’s fairly common for us to have a customer come up to one of our tables at our vendor shows, smell the candles, fall in love with the fragrances, and then explain that the customer “doesn’t burn candles.” We can completely understand and respect this for a variety of reasons: Small children in the home, curious pets, not allowed (such as dormitories or regulated apartments), fear of forgetting to extinguish the candle.

While highly unlikely, especially if following proper candle burning procedure, candles can potentially be dangerous – but this doesn’t mean you need to swear off candles. There are a number of ways you can enjoy candles without ever actually lighting them.

Simply decorative. Candles are beautiful all on their own. Their labels, their shape, the smoothness of the wax; having a candle located in the right place of the home can prove to be a lovely decoration. Curate the colors, name of the candle, or the cold throw (the fragrance you smell when the candle is unlit) with the right room to create a full set.

Photo Courtesy of Irene DellaCroce

Make a car smell amazing. Leave a candle with its lid off in a car, especially on a warm day, and the fragrance will emanate all throughout the vehicle. Try keeping it in a cupholder or securing it while the car is parked.

Keep your candle by a window that gets a lot of sunlight. Your candle will warm up and the fragrance will gradually seep into the room. Note that the sunlight may cause discoloration of the wax and/or label.

Place your candle on an electric candle warmer to gradually heat up the jar and melt the wax to make the fragrance come through for everyone to enjoy.

Start a collection for aesthetic purposes. Everyone loves to collect things – it’s a natural desire to have all the parts of a whole. You can create a beautiful and impressive collection of candles for a variety of purposes – same color, same fragrance, same brand.

Need a quick-fix fragrance? Try using a heat-gun or blow-dryer on your soy candle. Use the lowest setting possible, point at an angle at the wax (not directly at the wick), and circle the candle around while you’re warming the wax to be sure to create an even melt pool. This will warm the wax and bring in some gorgeous scent into the room without the fire! **(This is also an awesome fix if your candle was previously tunneling.)

Keep one at your desk while you’re at work. Depending on the type of fragrance, a good quality soy candle will have a strong cold throw (the scent when unlit). This cold throw can create a light fragrance right at your desk. Pro tip – keep the lid on until you’re ready to take a whiff of scent so your nose doesn’t become “scent-blind” to the fragrance.

For millennia, people have been enjoying candles – okay, sometimes they just needed them for light – even unlit, candles are one item that has never gone out of style.

Pregnancy is an amazing time for future moms, but it can also be incredibly nerve-wracking. There are so many rules involved about what you can and cannot ingest, wear, smell, etc.; it may feel like pregnant women should be walking around with a caution label.

The Cautions

When it comes to fragrances and skincare for pregnant women, there’s a lot of information warning women against the use of essential oils or certain fragrances. The reality is that most of this information applies to ingesting essential oils – which we never recommend unless under the direct care of a certified medical professional.

The second major precaution for pregnant women is the warning against the use of phthalates. Phthalates are a chemical compound are often found in vinyl flooring, toys, detergents, lubricating agents, and fragrance in cosmetics. While the FDA has declared they have found no conclusive evidence that phthalates are endocrine disruptors, phthalates are still under strict evaluation. The problem is that the FDA does not require the cosmetic industry to clearly indicate whether or not the fragrance used has phthalates, which is why Bath, Body, Candle Moments always takes extra precaution to always formulate WITHOUT phthalates. Rest assured, we are a 100% phthalate-free fragrance soap, skincare, and candle manufacturer.

In general, because of hormonal shifts in pregnant women, some fragrances a woman used to love may become irritating, and vice-versa. It really comes down to personal preference, and not safety, for pregnant women and fragrance. Fragrances are generally safe to use for pregnant women.

The most important point here is to be sure you’re gathering your information from credible resources.

For Sore Mommy Belly & Nipples

Carrying a baby is hard enough without the skin stretch irritation, which is why I recommend Butter Me Up Body Butter and/or our Body Lotion. Rich in butters and nourishing oils, it will help keep the skin supple, especially while it’s stretching to accommodate baby’s growth. The Body Butter and Body Lotion will not necessarily help with stretch marks, as that really depends on genetics, and how hydrated momma keeps her skin, but consistent moisture is key to creating skin elasticity.

For sore nipples before giving birth, Butter Me Up and the Body Lotion will work wonders. However, we recommend using organic extra virgin olive oil or organic raw cocoa butter while nursing and/or breastfeeding. This is because we don’t want to risk baby ingesting any fragrance, but before baby comes, slather on that Body Butter and Body Lotion!

For Hormone-Fickle Face

The hormone shifts in pregnant women can do all sorts of crazy things to your facial skin. You may have not seen a pimple since you were a teenager, and all of a sudden you’re breaking out like crazy, or suddenly your life-long acne has cleared up completely. The most important steps to take during this shift is to consistently stay well-hydrated, exfoliated, and moisturized.

Our number-one recommendation for relaxation is our Rest Easy Aromatherapy Spray gently formulated with witch hazel and benzoic acid, scented with the essential oils of Lavender, Roman Chamomile, and German Chamomile. Completely alcohol-free, you can use this lovely spray on your body, face, linens, or you can use it to remove make-up, as a facial toner, and you can even use it to spray baby’s crib – that’s how gentle it is.

Our phthalate-free cotton-wick soy candles are another wonderful way to just kick-back and relax while you’re pregnant. We highly recommend grabbing the remote, putting on your favorite fuzzy slippers, lighting the perfect Moments Candle, and just taking a deep breath of complete and utter calm and relaxation.

For Cleansing

For both momma and baby, the purest and most gentle soap we offer is the Purely Free Vegan Soap. Formulated without any fragrance and rich in cocoa butter, known for its super-moisturizing properties, this soap is absolutely an ideal way to cleanse while pregnant or to cleanse baby. It’s completely pure and natural with a luxurious and gentle lather that will leave skin feeling clean and soft with no irritation because it’s free of fragrance and detergents.

As I mentioned earlier, the best thing you can do while you’re pregnant is to gather as much information as possible and test your own tolerance for different fragrances.

This article is in no way meant to treat or diagnose any disease, nor does it take the place of a consult with a medical professional. Please be sure to speak with a medical professional before using any essential oils while pregnant.